Territory



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM.

No. 356,271. Patented Jan. 18, 1887.

4 SheetsSheet 2.

J. M. & M. S. BROWNING.

MAGAZINE FIRE ARM.

Patented Jan. 18. 1887.

(No Model.)

(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 3.

J. M. 85 M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM.

No. 356,271. Patented Jan. 18, 1887.

{No Model.) v 4 Sheets-Sheet-4. J. M. & M. S. BROWNING. MAGAZINE FIRE ARM. No. 356,271. Patented Jan. 18, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OF IC JOHN M. BROWVNING AND MATTHE\V S. BROlVNING, OF OGDEN CITY, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE \VINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COM- PANY, OF NE'\V HAVEN, CQNNECTICUT..

MAGAZINE Fl RE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.'356,271, dated January 18, 18,57.

Application filed Septemher 6,1886. Serial No. 212.822. (Nomhdeh) tion ofthe' same. and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a side View, Fig. 2 a top view, and

Fig. 3 an under side view on a reduced scale; Fig. 4, asectional side view showing the breechpiecein the up or closed position; Fig. 5, a vertical central section through the breechpiece in its down or open position; Fig.6, a horizontal section through the breech piece illustrating the action of the bar in cooking the hammer; Fig. 7, a side view of the breechpiece detached, and reversed from that seen in Fig. 4; Fig. 8, a vertical section on line .2: :v of Fig. 5, looking rearward; Fig. 9, a, vcrticalsec- 5 tion on line ;1 y of Fig. 4, looking forward;

Fig. vl0, a longitudinal section through the magazine, showing the latch; Fig. l I, a longitlidinal sectional view illustrating the more merit ofthc breech-piece and the lever G as 0 in holding the cartridge '01] the hreeclrpicce and ejecting the shell; Fig. 112, an inside view of the receiver, showing the bar and the slide for forcing the cartridge to the barrel and withdrawing the shell; Fig. 13, a horizontal section. throughthe one'sidc ot' the receiver,

showing atop view of the said slide.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine tirc-jarms in which the barrel is open into the receiver at-its rear end,

40 and the magazine arranged beneath the barrel, also open into the receiver, and in which the breech-piece ishung in the receiver at the rear, and sorts to swing upon its pivot up and down to open and close the barrehthe breechpiece also serving as the carrier to receive the cartridge from the magazine and transt'erit to a position in line with the barrel, from which it is forced. into the barrel prior to the final closing or rise of the breechpiecc, the object being a simple construction, and in, which the mechanism of the arm-that is to say, the lock, carrier, and. thebreech-pieceare all combined in a single structure.

A represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel B is attached, and'beneaththe barrel is themagazine (I, both opening into the receiver at the rear. the receiver also' constructed with .a tang, D, at the rear upon the upper side, and provided with a tang, E, below, bywhich the receiver is secured to the stock in the usual manner.

F, the'breech-pieceris arranged in a verticalopening through the receiver and hung at therear upon a pivot, G, near the top of the receiver, and upon which the breech-piece may turn, as from the position seen in Fig/4 to that seen in Fig. '5, and return. 7

The up-and-down movement is imparted to the breech-piece by means of a handle, H, surrounding the magazine forward of-the receiver and movable. in suitable guides toward and from the receiver. From this handle a rod or bar, I, extends through the forward end of the receiver and. so as to work in a lougitudi nal groove, J, in the side of the receiver, (see 75 Figs. 7 and 8,) the inner side of the bar preferably being tlush with the side of the receiver in which it works. A groove. K L. M, is formed inthe side of the br'ceel -pieee upon which the bar I is arranged, and at therear end of the bar I is a stud, N, proiccting inward and so as to work in the said groove 'in the side of the breech-piece. As the breechpiece is to act as the carrier,it is necessary that in its opening movement it shall drop to a position so low as to permit the cartridge to pass from the magazit'ie onto its upper surface, as seen in Fig. 5; and because the breechpiece is toact as a carrier it follows that in'its ascent-it must rest when ithas been raisedso far as to bring the cartridge which it has received from the magazine into line with the barrel, andv then, after the cartridge has been moved forward into the barrel, the breechpiece must rise to its up position in rear of 5 the head of the cartridge, and so as to resist .pieee inclines upward from its'forward end,

recoil in firing. To this end the forward por-.

tion, K, of the groove in the side of the breechand so that the stud N, under the movement of the bar I, will act as a cam-therein,and during the first partof the rear movement of the bar I it will work through the groove K and force the breeclrpiece downward, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 4, to a position so'far below such that when the breech-piece is dropped to forced to its extreme down v magazine is opened atthe rear,

the position below the barrel just described,

and as seen in Fig. 4, the groove in that posi-,

tion isin line with the pathof the bar I, and so that, the bar continuing its rear movement, the stud will work through this straight part L of the groove without effect upon the breechpiece. At the rear end of the groove theportion M is inclined upward and backward, so that as the stud N arrives at the rear end of thestraight portion -L of the groove it will enter the inclined part M and act thereon as L, and so that in completing the rear movement of the bar I the breech-piece will be position, as seen in Fig.6, and in that extreme dOWll'POSltiOD the so as to permit the movement of the column of cartridges therein,'and so that the rear cartridge in the magazine will be forced onto the top of the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. 5, and in a position to be transferred into line with the barrel. With the cartridge so standing on the breeehpieceahe handle is now moved forward; drawing the bar I with it, and during the first part of the movement the stud N works forward th rough the groove M, and, acting therein as a cam, raises-the breech-piece to the position indicated in broken lines, Fig. 4, and so that the cartridge thereon with the barrel, and standing in that posi ion the breech-piece rests, while the handle and bar continues its forward movement, the stud a cam, in like manner as it did in the first part,

- N passing through the straightportion L of the groove in'the breech-piece without effect thereon; and during this movement'of the stud through the longitudinal. or straight-part D of' the groove the cartridge is} transferred to the barrel, as hereinafter described, andthen'the" stud, arriving at the forward end oft-he partL of the groove, enters the'forward inclined part K, and, continuing. its movement, raises the breech-piece into its up or closed position, ,as

seen in Fig. '4. Thus in the backward or opening movement of the handle and bar I the breech piece is first dropped to a position slightly below the barrel, andthere rests, while the shell in the barrel may be drawn from the barrel onto the breech-piece and removed. Then during the last part of the opening movewill stand in (line;

ment of the handle the breeclrpiece is further I return of the handle and its bar I the first part of the movement raises thev breech-piece to bring the cartridge thereon into line with. the barrel, and thererests, while the movement of the handle continues, and the cartridge is carried from the top of the breechpiece into the barrel, and then in thelast part of the forward movement of the handlethe breech-piece is raised to its fully-closed position. Thus the breech-piece serves both asa breech-pieee'and a carrier. I fully-closed position, its under side 'sta'nd's. above the open rear end of the magazine, as seen in Fig. 9, and also seen in broken lines, Fig.5, and so that that endof the magazine is exposed at the rear when the breech-piece is closed; and in this 'condition the magazine is charged, the cartridges being successively introduced to the magazine beneath thebreechpiece.

To-hold the column of cartridges in the magazine, a spring-latch, 0, is arranged at the When the breech-piece is in its month of the magazine, over the nose P of which the heads of the cartridges will pass as they are successively forced into the magazine, and the latch spring overthchead of the last cartridge 'inserted, as seen in Fig. 10, so as to support the column against the action of the spring; but to release the column, 'so that the rear cartridge may pass onto the breechpiece when in the position to receive it, the

latch is constructed with an inward projection, R, in the path of the breech-piece in its descent. The breech-piece striking the projection R forces the nose P away from the head of the cartridge, leaving the vcartridge free to move rearward under the action of the magazine-spring against the end of the descending breeoh-pieoaand then as the breech-piece arrives'at its down position the rear cartridgeis free from the action of the latch, an"d so that,

the coin mn moving re'arward,the rear cartridge is forced onto the top of the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. 5, the next cartridge in the column being stopped by the nose P of the latch, as

seen in Fig. 5. Then as the breech-piece rises its action upon the latch will be the same as-v in the descent, but the breech-piece passes above the latch, so .as to leave it 'free before- -the breech-piece is finallyv closed,-and as the breech-piece so passes the latch its forward" endbears against the head of the rear cartridge', so as ,to force'it into-the. magazine-forward'of the latch, that the latch may engage the rear cartridge before the'breeeh -piece .reaches its-extreme up position.

To remove the cartridge from the breechpiece intothe barrel a slide, S, is arranged in a longitudinal groove, T, in'the side'of the -receiver above the bar'Ix (See-Figs. 8 and 12.)

igo

The slide is constructed with a finger, H, ex-' tending downward from the rear-'end,'in rear of the rear end of the bar I, and so that the bar I in its rearmo'vement will forcethe slide '10 and which, when the breech-piece is in its extreme open position, stands in rear of the head of the cartridge on the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. 13, and so that as the bar I moves forward, taking with it the slide S, the shoulder b, striking the rear end of the cartridge, will force it forward into the barrel, as indicated in broken lines, Figr12. 4

The introduction of the cartridge to the barrel must be completed before the breech-piece 2o commences its final rising or closing move ment. The shoulder 11 therefore stands in advance of the stud N, as seen in Fig. 12; and that the slide carrying the shoulder I) may stop its advance movement when the cartridge has been fully inserted, it is permitted a certain amount of up and down rocking movement at its rear end. The forward end of the slide cor- "responds to the width of the groove T, but the rear end upou its under side rides uponthe end of the slide. At the rear end the slide S is constructed with an upward projection, d, which in the movement of the slide will ride against the upper surface of the groove T; but when in its extreme forward-position this pro- 5 jection (1 stands beneath a corresponding notch,

e, in the upper side of the groove. The connection between the slide and the bar T is such that an up-and-down movementis permissible to the rear end of the slide when free-that is, 0 when the projection (1 comes below the notch e. The slide S therefore moves forward with .the bar-I from its rear position in Fig. 12 to its extreme forward position, at, which time the projection (Z stands beneath the notch e. Then, as the further advance'of the slide is prevented, because of the shoulder 1) coming against the rear end of the cartridge, or the rear end of the barrel, as the case may be, the continued forward movementof the bar I will force the rear end of the slide upward, cans ing the projection (Z to enter the notch cabove, as in broken lines, Fig. 12, at whichtime the projection \V will escape. from the notch e in the slide, leaving the slide at rest and the bar free-to pass on for its final closing movement; In this movement the projection \V of the bar works on the under side of the slide S, so as to hold it in its up position, and where itwill remain until on the return of the bar the pro- '6o jection XV again comes into line with the notch a, when the rear end of the slide will fall and engage the bar, so as to move with it, such fall of the slide being forced by the incline at the rear end of the projection d, working as a cam against the rear end of. the notch e, so that from the time of such engagement of the slide 'barrel above the breecl1-piece,from which t breech-piece is up,

.passes onto the breech-piece beneath the finand bar the slide will be forced to move rearward in positive engagement with the bar.

To extract the cartridge a spring extractorhook, f, is arranged upon the slide S, (see'Fig. 12) its nose standing forward of the shoulder b, and so as to leave space for the flange of the cartridge between thQtWQHS seen in Fig. 13. The nose of the extractor is beveled forward, so as to ride over thefiange of the cartridge 7' in the usual manner of extractor hooks, and so that standing in position in rear of the cartridge-head the forward movement of the slide will force the nose of the extractor-hook over the flange of the cartridge and bring the shouldcrb against the cartridge. Then on the return of the slide S the extractor will engage the flange of the cartridge and cause it to move rearward with the slide onto the top of the' breeehpiece.

The extracting movement, as well as the inserting, occurs during the passage of the stud- N through the longitudinal portion L of the groove n the side of the breech-piece-that is, while the breech-piece is at rest midway betweelrits up and down position. Thereforethere being a cartridge or exploded shell in the barrel when the breech-piece is elosfil, the breech-piece is dropped to its intermediate position, and then the shell is drawn from the must be removed before the breeeh-piece de scends to receive a cartridge from the magazine. This removal may be made by hand; but that-it may be automa'ically done I hang a lever, 9, upon one side of the breech-piece, the pivoth of the lever being at the rear, the free end forward. From this lever thereis an inwardly-projecting finger, v, whicl1,when the lies in a recess in the top of the breech-piece,'as seen in Fig. 2, and so that as the cartridge is drawn from the barrel onto the breech-piece it will stand upon that inwardlyn'oiccting finger. Then as the breechpiece commences its descent the rear end of the lever G below its pivotstrikes a shoulder or stud, Z, in the side of the receiver, as seen in Fig. 11, which arrests the further descent of the lever g, with the breech-piece, and as the breech-piece descends causes. the lever to turn upon its pivot and raise its forward end, and the finger 'i, beneath the shell, then on the breech-piece, imparts a throw to the shell, as

ICO

indicated in Fig. 11, suflicient to eject the shell; and while the lever g with 'its'tinger is so rising, as seen in Fig. 5, the breech-piece passes to its lowest position, to receive a cartridge from the magazine, and this cartridge ger 11, as seen in Fig.5. Then as the breechpiece rises a spring, m, (see Fig. 7,) causes the leverg to turn downward and bring its tingeri with a yielding pressure upon the up-' per surface of the cartridge, and so as to hold it upon the breeeh-piece and prevent its dis- 13o placement in the quick ascent of the breech- Y piece, so that when the breech-piece is raised to the midway position, with the cartridge in line with. the barrel, the finger i'of' the lever still rests upon the cartridge, but yieldingly,

' then the spring m'will. force the lever g to its down or home'positio'n before the breeeh pi'ece -comnienees its final upward or closingmovement; Thus the lever 9 serves the double purpose of holding acartiidge upon the breech piece during its transfer from the magazine to a position in rear of the barrel and as'an ejector for the exploded shell drawn from the barrel onto the breech-piece. i 4

The hammer is arranged in the breech-piece,

and consists of'a spindle, n, arranged in a longitudinal recess, 0, in the Lneechpiece; its forward end forming-a firing-pin, 8, adapted to pass through a corresponding opening,ft, -in the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. 6, and: the spindle is provided with a spring,'u, arrahg'ed to force the-hammer forward to the striking position when free. Thespindleisconstrneted with a lateral projection, w, so far through the side of the breech-piece as to stand in thepath of the studN on the barI, and so that as the bar movl rearward, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 6, the stud N will strike thelateral projection w, and then in its continued movement will force the hammer. to its full.-'cocked -;p0sitionfas indicated in broken lines, Fig. 6.

When the hammer has reached its cockedposition, it is engaged by the nose of a scar, 2, hungjn the-breech-piece, as seen. in "Fig. 5.- The tail 306- the sear extends downward from the pivot, and is provided with a spring,4, which is adapted to force, the sear into yielding' engagement with the hammer, and so a's to hold the hammer in its full-cocked position. The scar swings'with the breech-piece in its opening and closing movement. In the 010s ing movement thetail 3 comes into the path of the trigger 5, hung in the receiver below, as seen in Fig. 4, and so that the pull of the trigger will turn the sear and release the hammer, to permit it to fly forward ,under the action of its spring to strike the primer; but because the sear is hung in the breech-piece and moves with it, it follows-that in the first part of the" Opening movement of the breech-piece the searislaken out of the path of the trigger, and also that the hammer cannot lie-released until the brcech-piece .is substantially closed, and so as to bring the tail 3 of the sear into possible engagement with the trigger.

As a protection against accidental release of the ham mcr when cooked, we provide 'astop'to set against the tail of the scar when the breechpiece is closed, and this stop is best arranged in the form of a twoarmed lever, ,6. 7, hung upon a pivot, 8, in rear of the tail oil thescar, as seen in Fig. 4.

through the tang D, and' is provided with a suitable handle, 9, by which the-lever may be turned upon its pivot, the said handle work- The arm 6, extends up ing through a slot, 10, in the tang." When moved forward, as seen inFig. v9, the lower arm, 7', stands below the bearingpoint 11 on the sear, and'so that in that condition the sear is free for the action of the trigger; but when the lever 6 7 is. thrown to therear then the arm 7 is raised into a position in rear of the bearing-point 11 on the tail of the sear, and so asto hold'it in its engaged position with. the

hammer, and prevent possible movement of the searfrom such engagement while the lever stands in that position. vThe operator seeing theleverin its forward positionknows thatthe sear is free for the action of the trigger, but when drawn tothe rear he knows that the sear is locked and that discharge is impossible. Y The arm 6 of the lever is provided with a spring, 12, to hold it in either of its two positions. When thelever 6 7 is in the position of locking'the sear, as described, it also socurelylocks the breech-piece in its closed position, for the reason that so long as the arm 7 stands in'rear ofthetail of the sear thebreech piece cannot be turned downward; but when turned out of the path of the tail of the sear,

as seen in Fig. 4, then not onlyis the sear free, but the breeeh-piece is also free. I

I t may be desirable to provide means-for antomaticall'y engaging the breech-piece with the bar Iwhen the breech-piece is closed, so as to prevent accidental displacement of the'breechpiece. This is effectively done by the introduction of a spring-catch. 13, in the groovein' the breech-piece in line with the studN when the breech-piece is in its closed position; and, as seen in Fig. 9,;the endof the spring-catch is of conical shape, and the stud N has a cor;

responding recess upon its inner end, sojthat as the'bar approaches its extreme forward. movementand the breech-piece its extreme up position the point of the spring-catch is forced inward by coming in contact with the stud N on the bar, and so as to permit the stud Nto pass to its home position. Then the spring-catch is forced outward into engagement' with the stud N, so as to yieldingly hold the breech-piece in i'tsnp or closed position.

The peculiar construction of the breechpiece and its connection with the handle for-' movement is imparted to the breech-piece and the intermediate rest, may be employed in arms of this class in which the hammer is! 5 ward, whereby the up and down swinging gitudinal movement of the bar is otherwise communicated to the breech-piece, so as to produce its up and down swinging movement.

We are aware that the arrangement of a breech-piece hung in the receiver in rear of the barrel, so as to swing downward and back ward in opening to a position below the mouth of the magazine to receive a cartridge from is the magazine upon its upper surface, and the.

said breech-piece arranged to rest at a point midway between its extreme open and closed positions while the cartridge is in line withi the barrel, and so that the cartridge may be moved from the breech-piece'into the barrel, is not new, and thereforedo not clai n1, broadly, such an arrangement of breech-piece; but

What we do claim is- 1. In a magazine fire arm, the combination as of a barrel, 2. magazine beneath the barrel, both open into the receiver at the rear, a breech-piece hung in the receiver in rear of the barrel and so as to swing downward and backward in opening to a position below the magazine, a sliding guided handle forward of the receiver, and abarextendi ng therefrom into the receiver and so as to work in a path parallel with the side of the breech-piece, the breech-piece constructed with a-longitudinal groove terminating at its forward end in a downward and forward incline, and atits rear end terminating in an upward and rearward incline, the said bar provided with a stud adap ed to work in said groove, substantially as described, and whereby in the rear and forward movement of said slide the said stud operates to drop and raise the breech-piece, but hold it at a position of rest midway between its down and up positions, substantially as describedr 2. In a magazine fire-arm in which the magazine is arranged beneath the barrel and both the barrel and magazine open into the receiver at the rear, a breech -piece hung in thereceiver in rear of the barrel and arranged to swing downward and upward in its opening and closing movements, a guided handle arranged beneath the barrel forward of the receiver, a bar extending from said handle into the receiver andin connection with the breechpiece, whereby under the reciprocating movement of the handle the opening and closing movement is imparted to the breech-piece, a slide, 3, arrangedin a groove, T, in the side of the receiver parallel with the said bar, the said slide constructed with a shoulder, -b, and the said bar and slide, the one constructed with a notch, a, and the other with a corresponding projection, W, the said slide also constructed with an upward projection, d,and the'receiver' with a notch, e, in the side of the groove corresponding to the said projection d on the slide, when the slide is in its forward position, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a magazine fire-arm inwhich the magazine is arranged beneath the barrel and both the barrel and magazine open into the receiver at the rear, a breech-piece hung in the receiver in rear of the barrel and arranged to swing downward and upward in its opening and closing movem nt, a guided handle arranged beneath the "Zarrel forward of the receiver, a bar exten ing from said handle into the receiver and in connection with the breechpiece, wherebymnder the reciprocating movement of the handle, the opening and closing movement is imparted to the breech-piece, a slide, S, arranged in a groove, T, in the side of the receiver parallel with the said bar, an extractor-hook on said slide, and the said bar and slide, the one constructed with a notch, a, and the other'with a corresponding projection,\V, the said slide also constructed with an upward projection, d, and the receiver with a notch,e, in the side of the groove corresponding to the said projection d of the slide,when the slide is in-its forward position,substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a magazine fire-arm having the magazine arranged beneath the barrel and both the barrel-and magazine opening into the receiver at the rear, the breech-piece hung in the receiver inirear' of the barrel and so as to swing downward'and backward in opening to a; position below the magazine, and so that the rear cartridge in the magazine may pass onto the upper side of the breech-piece, a reciproeating handle forward of the receiver, a bar ranged to work in a corresponding groove in the side of the breech-piece, whereby the up and down swinging movement is imparted to said breech-piece, the said groove being constructed of an inclined shape at its forward and rear ends, the intermediate portion being longitudinal to permit a rest of the breechpiece midway of its up and down position, a. lever, g, hung on one side of the breech-piece upon a pivot below the pivot upon which the breech-pieceis hung, the said lever constructed with a finger, i, extending inward onto .the upper face of the breech-piece, a spring, on, between the saidbreech-piece and lever, and a shoulder, I, in thereceiver in rear of saidlever and at a-point below the pivot on which the. lever is hung, substantially as and for the purpose described.

hung in the receiver'in rear of the barrel, so as to swing downward and upward in opening and closing, a reciprocating handle forward of the receiver, a bar-extending therefrom into the receiver and so as to receive the reciprocating movement-of the handle, the said bar arranged to impart said opening and closing movements to the breech-piece, a sliding hammer and its mainspring arranged in said breechextending therefrom into the receiver and ar- 5.- In a fire-arm in which the breech-piece is 'asezvr Q piece, with a lateral extension from the hammer into the path of said bar, and whereby the rear movement of the bar will impart a forced rear movement of the hammer to its 5 cocked position, and a searhung in said breech piece and arranged to engage the hammer when at full-cock with a trigger by which the said sear may be discharged, substantially as described.

6. In a firearm in which the breech-piece is hung in the receiver in rear of the-barrel, so as to swing downward and upward inopening and closing, a. reciprocating handle forward of the receiver, a bar extending therer 5 from into the receiver and so as to-receive the reciprocating movement of the handle, the said bar arranged to impart said openingand closing movements to the breech-piece, asliding hammer and its mainspring arranged in 20 said breech-piece, with a lateral extension from the-hammer into the path of. said "bar, and whereby the rear movement of the bar will impart a forced rear movement of the hammer to its cocked posit-ion, a sear hung in said 25 breech-piece and arranged to engage the hammer when at inll-coek,the said sear constructed tending from the said handle into the receiver,

the breech-piece constructed with a groove in its side, through which a stud on said bar-will work, and whereby, under the backward and forward movement'of the handle, the opening and closing movement is imparted to the.

breech-piece, and a spring-catch between said breech-piece and bar adapted tointerlock the bar and breech-piece when the breech-piece is in its closed position, substantially as described. I 4

' JOHN M. BROWNING. vMATTHEWS. BROWNING. Witnesses:

MILEs G. JoNEs, CALEB PARRY. 

